Moving Towards Disruption: Early Movers Incorporate NFC into Smart Packaging

摘要

Near Field Communication (NFC) is a technology that allows a "tag" to interact with a smartphone, when in near proximity. In 2010, Android devices began to utilize the technology. The technology found uses within consumer packaging to allow users to connect with Bluetooth speakers, wireless routers, and useful data. This improves the user experience. As of this year, Apple has joined into supporting NFC in ways that will enhance the demand for smart labels and packaging with NFC tags. Before in North America, Apple's restriction of NFC to only payment functions stunted growth that was seen in other areas of the world such as Europe and Asia. For print providers, who want to stay on the current edge of technology and follow the ever-evolving market, NFC is a technology that has the potential to have a large disruptive impact to the industry. NFC is a rather cheap technology in comparison to the value it adds. Business card printing startup, Moo has made a large name for themselves with their premium stocks and NFC embedded tags. For their customers users who touch their phone to a NFC enabled business card may have the persons contact information saved into their phone, or the corporate website launch, along with hundreds of other possibilities. They were an early mover with incorporating the technology, but now with less uncertainty in the market, it makes sense for more print providers and package designers to keep this technology in mind as they plan for the future.